December
2003

Trenton, NJ— New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced
a settlement agreement with Branchburg Township, Somerset County, that
addresses a number of serious water pollution violations, including their
unlawful disposal of sludge and their submittal of falsified discharge
monitoring reports. Branchburg Township must pay the state $201,600 as
part of the settlement agreement.

“We are pleased Branchburg Township
acted quickly to voluntarily disclose their environmental violations and
to correct the problems occurring at their sewage treatment plants,”
said Commissioner Campbell. “While the penalties issued reflect
the seriousness of the violations and their negative impact on the state’s
ability to protect water quality, they also take into consideration Branchburg
Township’s cooperation and appropriate response.”

Upon hiring a new consultant to oversee
the operation of their Fox Hollow and Neshanic Sewage Treatment Plants,
Branchburg Township discovered that their former operator and employee,
Joseph Stracuzzi, had directed the illegal disposal of sludge from the
sewage treatment plants and falsified discharge monitoring reports submitted
to the DEP.

On at least 65 instances between February
1997 and April 2002, sludge generated from their sewage treatment plants
was discharged into a portion of their wastewater collection system that
flows into the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewage Authority system. Under
state laws, sludge must be disposed of at a disposal facility approved
by the DEP.

In addition, for at least 10 years prior
to May 2002, Mr. Stracuzzi consistently submitted required discharge monitoring
reports for Branchburg Township’s Neshanic Sewage Treatment Plant
that indicated that all effluent sampling required by their DEP permit
was properly conducted. However, after hiring the new consultant to oversee
the operation of the sewer utility, Branchburg Township learned that random,
grab samples instead of composite samples were consistently taken for
solids and oxygen demand. As a result, the discharge monitoring reports
contained false sample information that the DEP relied upon to make compliance
determinations.

Also, during May 2001 and December 2001,
the DEP cited the Neshanic Sewage Treatment Plant for serious effluent
violations for fecal coliform. In January 2002, Fox Hollow also received
a violation for a serious effluent violation of fecal coliform.

In an attempt to mitigate the financial
impact of the $201,600 issued to Branchburg Township’s sewer utility,
the DEP granted the township a 10-year payment schedule. The first payment
of $20,160 is due March 1, 2004. In assessing the penalty amount, the
DEP took into consideration that the township self disclosed its violations
upon discovery.

In a separate settlement agreement with
Mr. Stracuzzi, the former operator agreed to pay the state a $2,000 fine
for his unlawful activities and accept the permanent revocation of his
wastewater operator licenses. The DEP operates a water and wastewater
license certification program to ensure that only properly trained and
experienced individuals operate water and wastewater facilities in New
Jersey.

“Licensed individuals who operate
New Jersey’s water and wastewater facilities have an obligation
to serve the public in a professional and lawful manner,” Campbell
added. “This enforcement case clearly demonstrates that any operator
who fails to meet these obligations will be held individually responsible
and will be forced to seek another profession.”

Failure to properly monitor wastewater
discharge undermines the integrity of the department’s New Jersey
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit program, which
is based in large part on self-monitoring and reporting by permittees.

Branchburg Township is currently in compliance
with its DEP permit requirements.